The New York Mets were highly active during the offseason, making several key additions to their roster. They brought in Juan Soto, Frankie Montas, and Jose Siri while also re-signing Pete Alonso, Sean Manaea, and Jesse Winker. However, these moves have resulted in a crowded outfield and designated hitter (DH) situation. One player caught in the middle of this roster logjam is Starling Marte, who signed a four-year, $78 million contract in 2022 and is set to earn $20 million for the 2025 season. Unfortunately, Marte’s performance has declined in recent seasons, as he has struggled to regain his power at the plate and has become a below-average defender. Given his sizable contract, keeping him in a platoon role at DH may not be a viable option for the Mets.
According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, a trade involving Marte is still on the table, and one potential landing spot could be the Kansas City Royals. Sherman noted that the Royals had previously attempted to acquire Marte earlier in the offseason as they sought a veteran presence in their lineup. Kansas City was reportedly in the market for a reliable bat to fill the fifth spot in their order and had been willing to increase payroll to do so. They made a three-year offer to free agent Anthony Santander, but he ultimately chose to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Royals also explored the possibility of signing Jurickson Profar, who ended up joining the Atlanta Braves, and attempted to trade for Taylor Ward from the Los Angeles Angels. With those options no longer available, Kansas City has not ruled out revisiting talks with the Mets about Marte, who is currently recovering from a knee injury and is expected to return to action soon.
Marte’s offensive production has declined over the past two seasons, as he has hit just 12 home runs combined during that stretch. This is a stark contrast to his 2022 All-Star campaign, when he hit 16 homers. Despite the trade speculation, the Mets are not in a rush to move Marte, as he has reportedly been cooperative and has embraced his reduced role on the team. Mike Puma of the New York Post reported that the Mets were upfront with Marte about their attempts to trade him after acquiring Soto.
The Royals, who won 86 games last season and advanced to the American League Division Series (ALDS) before being eliminated by the New York Yankees, are looking to strengthen their roster for a deeper postseason push. Adding a veteran like Marte could provide the stability and experience they need to compete at a higher level in 2025.
